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Carmel’s girls swimming and diving team won four individual championships, all three relays and set three state records in capturing its 27th consecutive IHSAA team title on Saturday at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis.

Already the longest streak of state championships in any girls sport in the nation, Carmel tied Pickford (MI) High School’s boys track and field team (1952-78) for the second longest string in national high school history. Punahou High School (Honolulu, HI) won 29 straight boys swimming championships from 1958-86 and tops the national high school charts. Carmel’s current mark continues to be the longest active streak in the country regardless of sport or gender.

The Greyhounds accumulated 397 points followed by Penn which finished in the runner-up spot for the first time since 1980 with 189 points. Zionsville placed third at 178, followed by Hamilton Southeastern with 127 and Chesterton with 125.

The Greyhounds set the tone right out of the gate with a state record time in the 200 medley relay, winning the event for a fifth straight year and never looked back the rest of the day. Lacey Locke, Alex Clarke, Ariana Bullard and Veronica Burchill teamed to set the new mark in 1:41.17. Locke and Bullard had been part of the Greyhound team that set the previous state best of 1:41.42 two years ago. It was Locke’s fourth straight title in the event and Bullard’s third.

The Greyhounds 400 freestyle relay completed the day with another record swim. Burchill, Hanna House, Claire Adams and Locke lowered the standard to 3:23.37.

With her two relay crowns today, Locke capped a stellar prep career finishing with 11 state championships overall, tied for second-most in state history with Lindsay Benko of Elkhart Central (1991-94). Carmel’s Emily Ayers holds the record with 14 from 1992-95.

Bullard won the 100 butterfly in 53.90 and was a link in the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay teams.

Adams and Burchill, both Carmel freshmen, offered a glimpse of the future winning three individual titles between them and each the maximum four blue ribbon medals.

Adams won the 100 backstroke in a state record time of 53.40 and also edged Western’s Summer Brown at the wall by .05-hundredths of a second to win the 200 freestyle (1:49.25). She also was part of the record-setting 400 freestyle relay as well as the 200 free relay.

Burchill won the 100 freestyle in 50.29 and was a member of all three winning relays.

Penn teammates Bethany Galat and Addisynn Bursch finished 1-2 in the 200 individual medley. It was the second consecutive state championship in the event for Galat who finished in 1:59.06 followed by Bursch in 2:00.99. Galat also won the 100 breaststroke in 1:00.29 to help the Kingsmen equal their school’s best finish ever.

Northridge’s Brittney Walters became the first girls swimming state champion in her school’s history when she captured the 500 freestyle in 4:53.49 out of an unlikely lane eight starting position. She had set her own personal best during Friday’s prelims with a 4:59.53 and remarkably shaved over six seconds off that time for the championship.

Zionsville’s Alex Cleveland took the top spot in the 50 freestyle in 22.99 and Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter’s Sarah Bacon carried home honors in the one meter diving competition with 506.95 points.

The 39th Annual IHSAA Girls Swimming & Diving State Finals
Indiana University Natatorium, IUPUI, Indianapolis
February 8-9, 2013

Top 10 Teams
1.    Carmel: 397
2.    Penn: 189
3.    Zionsville: 178
4.    Hamilton Southeastern: 127
5.    Chesterton: 125
6.    Crown Point: 120
7.    Homestead: 106
8.    Munster: 100.5
9.    Mount Vernon: 85
10.  Fishers: 84

State Champions
200 Medley Relay – Carmel (Lacey Locke 12, Alex Clarke 10, Ariana Bullard 12, Veronica Burchill 9) 1:41.17. State Meet Record.
200 Freestyle – Claire Adams, 9, Carmel, 1:49.25.
200 Individual Medley – Bethany Galat, 11, Penn, 1:59.06.
50 Freestyle – Alex Cleveland, 11, Zionsville, 22.99.
One Meter Diving – Sarah Bacon, 10, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter, 506.95 points.
100 Butterfly – Ariana Bullard, 12, Carmel, 53.90.
100 Freestyle – Veronica Burchill, 9, Carmel, 50.29.
500 Freestyle – Brittney Walters, 12, Northridge, 4:53.49.
200 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Veronica Burchill 9, Claire Adams 9, Hanna House 11, Ariana Bullard 12) 1:32.97.
100 Backstroke – Claire Adams, 9, Carmel, 53.40. State Meet Record.
100 Breaststroke – Bethany Galat, 11, Penn, 1:00.29.
400 Freestyle Relay – Carmel (Veronica Burchill 9, Hanna House 11, Claire Adams 9, Lacey Locke 12) 3:23.37. State Meet Record.

State Championship Record Streaks 
Longest streaks of consecutive state championships, all sports, all states
29: Honolulu Punahou, Hawaii, boys swimming, 1958-86.
27: Carmel, Ind., girls swimming, 1986-2013.*
27: Pickford, Mich., boys track and field, 1952-78.
26: Woonsocket Mt. St. Charles Academy, R.I., boys hockey, 1978-2003.
25: Bolles, Jacksonville, Fla. boys swimming, 1988-2012.*
25: Paulsboro, NJ, wrestling, 1983-2007.
24: St. Xavier, Louisville, Ky., boys swimming, 1989-2012.*
24: Tacoma Wilson, Wash., boys swimming, 1960-83. 
*Active streak.
(Source: National Federation of State High School Associations)

Lacey Locke Wins Mental Attitude Award
Carmel High School’s Lacey Locke was recognized following the state championship meet by the IHSAA Executive Committee as this year’s winner of the mental attitude award.

The award is presented annually to a senior, nominated by her principal and coach, who demonstrates excellence in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability.

Locke holds a 3.55 GPA, participated in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, has been a board member for the CHS Key Club assisting with volunteer efforts both inside and outside of school. Additionally, Locke has participated as a member of the Executive Board with the CHS Dance Marathon for the children at Riley Hospital in Indianapolis resulting in a donation of over $250,000 to the cause in 2011.

The daughter of Twig and Nancy Locke of Carmel, she will attend Northwestern University next fall where she will swim for the Wildcats.

Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presented Carmel High School with a $1,000 scholarship in the name of Lacey Locke.